ENTERTAINING ALGERNON

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 139, 8 March 1941, Page 16

ENTERTAINING ALGERNON

arrived in an empty icecream carton. It. was a most dramatic arrival, for Kiwi's pencil went clattering to the floor and she gave a little squeal when first she saw those long feelers and folded legs. The effect was even more terrifying when Algernon rolled his eyes, unfolded his legs, pretented to give a careless yawn —as though he was used to making people drop pencils—and scampered to the top of the carton. But when Kiwi became better acquainted she found that despite his scaley skin and monstrous sets of legs,

be was of a kind disposition and there ■was something truly comical about his long armour-plated middle and wicked eyes. Algernon's owner called him “Algie” in an affectionate sort of way and gave him an encouraging procl. Algie immediately brightened up and hopped off for some exercise after being cooped up in the narrow confines of the carton. He wiggled two sets of legs (these were his favourite ones and they made a peculiar clickety click

along the polished table top) and in a twinkle he was taking his bearings from the edge of my letter rack. And now, while Algie is busy leaping over w.p.b., scaling Sunshine Box and looking at the uncTlmbed heights of the heater-pipe with a speculative eye. I shall tell you a little about the queer

family to wtiich he belongs. You have probably guessed by this time that he is what we call a ‘ weta.’’ Have you ever seen the leaves of a mahoe plant riddled with large boles? If you have, ir menus that some of

Algie’s relations have hopped out from their secret nooks in hollow tree stems and rotten stumps and taken their nightly meal. Many people think that wetas are responsible for the tunnelled holes which "are often punctured in old tree trunks, but. actually, they merely inhabit the deserted homes of,wood boring insects who have made these hollow galleries—although Mr. Weta frequently enlarges them himself so as to make the fit more comfortable. But don’t get curious, country members, and try to prod Mr. Weta out of his tree stumps—for once annoyed, he can give plenty of swift and very energetic nips! Perhaps you already know something about some of Algie’s countless uncles and aunts and brothers and sisters and cousins, so please write and tell ns about it. Oli. Algernon!

He has fallen plonk! from the heater-pipe against a bottle with a big red label, and now- he has splashed himself into the centre of an inky puddle. I shall have to succour poor Algie and dry him off in the sun before his owner comes back!—KlWl.